FRANCONIA BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 6, 2016 A meeting of the Franconia Board of Selectmen was held at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at the Franconia Town Hall. Regular members in attendance were Bernie Costa, Eric Meth, John Lachapelle, Sally Small and Herbie Bartlett. Guests of the Board: Tim Brown, John Monaghan, Wendell Jesseman, Mark Vander- Heyden, Greg Jesseman. Other Guests: Dawn Steele, Russ Cumbee, Peter Grote, Mary Grote MINUTES: 8/22/16 & 8/29/16 BOS Minutes 8/29/2016: A formal reading of the August 29, 2016 minutes was waived and the minutes were approved as amended. Closed session approved as written. BOS Minutes 8/22/2016 Closed session minutes are approved as written. Open session will be reviewed on 9/12/16. FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL: Minutes 8/29/16 Open & Closed Approved. Transaction Lists 9/8/16 - Approved and signed by the Board. Building Permit Presby Tabled waiting on Allan Clark. APPOINTMENTS: 3:00 Tim Brown Lafayette Brook Property as the Director of the Public Charity came to the Board of Selectmen to tell them about his proposed lease-to-purchase arrangement between the NH Division of Parks & Recreation and the nonprofit corporation, The Lambesworth Estate, hereinafter referred to as the Public Charity, for a 400-acre tract of land known as the Lafayette Brook parcel. The Public Charity is interested in constructing and maintaining a permanent archive dedicated to preserving the record of early Biblical manuscripts on this property. It would be accessed from Route 18. It would be a structure that is self-sufficient and designed to survive the human race. It could be an attraction for visitors. Tim will present his proposal to the Planning Board when he thinks the timing is appropriate. He will keep the Board in the loop as this project progresses. 3:30 Wendell & Greg Jesseman/Mark Vander Heyden The Jesseman s and Mark Vander-Heyden presented two proposed septic designs for their property in Mittersill that is partially on Mittersill and State land. He will be presenting them to the state for an approval of at least one of them. Mr. Jesseman will put some stakes out in the 09/06/2016 Page 1 OS
area that they want to put the septic and they will let Sally know when it is done. Sally will look through the history of the property and the town s easement with the state. They want to sell the property but they need to have a replacement septic in place before they can put it up for sale. TO. DISCUSS/REVIEW: Letter from River Road Resident The resident is concerned with activity that is taking place at the neighbor s house and whether or not the building activity is legal. The property owner in question has previously done work without permits. Allan Clark is familiar with this property. When the letter came in Sally sent a scanned copy to Allan Clark but Allan requested that the Board formally ask him to investigate since we have had previous legal issues with this gentleman. He had added living space and the Fire Inspectors and Building Inspector came in and had him bring the property up to code. He is doing other things that may not. The Board asked Sally to contact Allan and have him take a look at the property and make sure it is in compliance. Letter from Lafayette School - Gordie Johnk sent a letter thanking the Franconia Police Department and especially SGT Cashin for working with the staff members at the school during their annual in-service meeting with a half day training for the staff in how to prepare and respond to an active shooter in the building. Email from Andy Smith Re: Town Staffing Andy supports the Staffing recommendations as proposed with no reservations. Miscellaneous Sally informed the board that Carl Belz passed away on August 28 th. There will be a memorial service in Cambridge on October 2 nd. Dinny Richmond is trying to encourage a memorial service here in Franconia. Sally provided the board with Barbara Belz s mailing address. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Conservation Commission - John Lachapelle walked the newly acquired Lawrence land with Kim Cowles and Peter & Mary Grote. Parts of the property are very wet and there are a lot of beaver dams. Kim connected with the owners of The Fransted Campground whose land abuts the property. Chris Hodge, who is insured, can go in and trap the beavers and the campground has agreed to pay for this expense. John thinks the beavers have moved on but is not certain. There is a lot of water there and they will have to drain it a little at a time. The Board just has to approve this project. We will have to get Chris s insurance documents. CIP Committee (CIP) Someone asked the Select Board if Scott takes the truck home every night. He did take it home in the winter months because he was on call. Taking it home every night would put more miles on the vehicle. We can ask him 09/06/2016 Page 2 OS
about that. We need to have more discussion about the bidding process and to update the bidding process to include auctions and the internet. We need to re-visit this topic. The Fire Department met with CIP committee to discuss the issues with the designated fire ponds and cisterns that are troublesome. We have established a funds for taking care of ponds but want to wait until there is more money before working on them. The fire pond off of Wallace Hill needs to be cleaned out. The Fire Department has been trying to contact the owners but with no success. We need to send a letter to the property owner to obtain permission to go on the property. The Fire Department doesn t want to put money in until they have permission and have figure out how to pay for the work. Energy Committee Street Lamp project The committee has all lamps tagged that are proposed to be shut off. Dave Strange rode with John Monaghan and he had concerns as do some towns people. The committee only meets once a month. Land Acquisition on Profile Road The Board discussed their response to the State s proposed land acquisition of land owned by J&T Land Trust. The comment period ends on September 11, 2016. If the State were to acquire the land there would be cross country skiing and bike trails that are adjacent to the state park with natural resources that connect to the trails on route 142. The board s concern was how the acquisition would fit into the town s master plan and whether some of the uses would be harmful to the area. Bernie was going to draft a letter and send it to the other board members for review. Northern Pass NHDOT Letter - that Peter Grote handed to Sally. It will be attached to the minutes. Mary stated that on her property they drilled down 68 feet. She asked Phil Beaulieu where do you have the permits for this and what permit allows you to do that? He said he didn t know and he will get back to her. (This was in reference to the 8/22/16 minutes she said her comment was not in the minutes and wants them put in). So far he has not responded to her or the town. Planning Board September 12, 2016 - TTW, LLC Lot Line Adjustment and a Site Plan Review off 116. Safety Committee Meets once a quarter and the minutes have not been posted yet. Herbie will get the minutes on line. Wages & Benefits Because of vacations the committee has not met recently. They do still intend to have Health Trust come and give a presentation of the health plans that will be available to the employees in 2017. Dawn Steele is aware of the HealthTrust 45 day window before the end of the year. Staffing Committee Town staffing meeting will be posted on the town sign. Invite everyone that you know. It will be held at the town hall on September 8 th at 6:00pm. 09/06/2016 Page 3 OS
Miscellaneous - Letter to the owners of Delage Farm Road There has been no response from the owners in regards to the bridge. The Board may have Scott go out and chat with them. Schedule Jim Alden and the Staffing Committee on September 12 th at 3pm. There is no meeting on October 19 th. Schedule Fire Department for budget review on October 26th at 630pm. Tri Town Recreation Agreement Laura is on vacation but Kim will send an email regarding Laura s questions of the agreement. Hopefully we will get something next week. PUBLIC INPUT: Dawn Steele In regards to the beaver issues she recommends exercising caution. Some beaver are on the endangered species list. She is not an expert but just wants to make sure we are doing the right thing. Dawn gave the board paperwork regarding the beavers. The Board asked Sally to share the information with Kim for the Conservation Commission. Mary Grote In regards to the beaver the Franconia Conservation Committee (FCC) has not taken a vote to okay trapping the beaver. She had concerns in regards to the campground and believed that the beaver are moving up further away from the campground. The areas are now open and absorbing. She believes that there needs to be a study of the impact to the area. The committee needs to know where they are now and what is happening before taking a position. The Board asked if FCC could call a meeting to vote on this. Mary stated that due to Kim s busy summer schedule she has not been able to come to their meetings. As the town now owns the property there is a liability if it breaches in a storm. The board asked Mary to get Kim to schedule a meeting Rebecca Brown could also be a resource for information. Russ Cumbee publicly apologized to Eric Meth for his comment he made during last week s board meeting. He also handed the Board Meeting corrections to the minutes of his public input at last week s meeting. Sally Small also apologized for her getting up and leaving the meeting last week but in the 28 years she had participated in board meetings she had never heard comments against the board like what occurred during last week s meeting. Dawn Steele Wanted to correct the name of a one of last week s guests to Lynn Terres (instead of Terrace.) She also handed out a new public right to know law from the attorney general. Bernie asked that if information was being handed to the selectmen that a copy should also be provided for the public record. Eric Meth stated he accepted Russ Cumbee s apology and he understood Russ Cumbee s concerns. Eric knows Selectmen from the Littleton & Lincoln Select Boards 09/06/2016 Page 4 OS
and shared Littleton s Selectmen agenda that showed that they have the public input at the end of the meeting and at the end of bi-weekly meetings. Bernie made a motion to close and seal the closed session minutes of September 1, 2016, Eric seconded the motion with all voting in favor. John had to leave the meeting at 5:00 and the remaining board discussed the art of taking minutes in general. The remaining board voted to adjourn the meeting at 5:20pm Respectfully submitted, Herbie Bartlett, Executive Secretary 09/06/2016 Page 5 OS